Aquapetz Aquascaping Contest 2015

Aquapetz Aquascaping Contest 201

Announcement

It gives us immense pleasure to herald the fourth edition of Aquapetz
Aquascaping Contest 2015. We have always tried to take to hobby to next
level in our areas, in a way that opens new horizons for innovation and
marks insight into aesthetic only nature can offer an adequate canvas
for. This year we chosen to have two categories. We are pleased to
declare that we received a response from enthusiasts from all over the worldand ita gave us great satisfication. We are grateful to all the participants who contributed in the past, for their attempts to bring this entrancing art to this platform and ever-interesting forms. We shall focus on reaching hobbyists are learners sitting far and wide. We arge you to kee up the support we value so highly!

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Rules

General Information
for Entrants

1.

A
participant should be a member of www.aquapetz.com

2.

Each
participant can participate in all
the categories i.e. Planted
Aquariums
and Biotope Aquariums.
A participant can present unlimited entries in each categories.

3.

If the
same entrant grabs the first/second/third position in all
categories, he/she should be awarded the prize only for one category.
However he/she will be awarded a certificate for all winning entries.
The prize will be awarded to the next entrant in the ranking.

4.

Entries will be accepted from August 13, 2015
to October 31, 2015
11:59 PM (IST).

5.

All the entries will be
shown in a photogallery in the forum. The result will be published on
December, 2015 and the photogallery will be published in January 2016. Some
entrants do not want to publish their entries due to terms and
conditions of other aquascaping contest. This year, we are considiring
this issue.

6.

There
will be two
categories in the contest: Planted Aquariums
and Biotope Aquariums. This will be irrespective of size. Biotope aquariums
should be decorated with material surrounding fishes in their natural
habitat. This will include rocks, wood and plants. All species included
should have a real relationship in nature.

General Tips

1.

Clean front glass before photographing the
tank. Remove any water mark, adherent algae and so on.

2.

Remove the unwanted creatures from the tank
before taking photographs. Snails crawling on walls and leeches will result
in deduction of points.

3.

Trim plants and remove any equipment and
similar items from the tank.

4.

Do not present copyrighted material.

5.

Please do not make changes in the original
photographs using photo editing software.

Rules for
Photographing Aquascapes

1.

It is necessary to submit two photographs of
the aquascape. The main photo should be a front view and the second must be
taken at an angle. A participant
can submit up to five photographs of the same entry.

2.

If the same aquascape has been entered in a
different aquascaping contest, the photograph submitted in this contest
cannot be the same. A fresh one must be submitted.

3.

Photograph should be in .jpg or .gif format.

4.

Photograph should not be taken less than a 4
mega pixel camera.

5.

No signature, copyright mark or any text may appear over the
photographs.

6.

Photographs should be original and belong to
the entrant. There should be no editing, or tricks associated with editing
software. If found guilty of such malpractice, the entrant’s photograph will
be declared disqualified for the contest.

7.

www.aquapetz.comwill have all rights to publish submitted photographs and entrants will have
deemed to be granted them by the mere act of entering the competition.

Prizes

1.

There will be a prize for winners in both
categories. Prizes will be sent to their given address.

2.

First/second/third prize winning entrants will
be provided a Certificate of Rank.

Criteria for
Selection of Aquascapes

Winning
aquascapes will be chosen on the basis of two phases.

Phase I

Well known names in the aquarium hobby will be appointed as
judges. Every entry will be given a unique number before sending to
judges. After evaluation, an average will be taken of the score.
Judgment will be made on the basis of four point
criteria:

Biotope Aquariums

1.

Layout Design (20 Points)

If the design of layout is original or copied
from other scapes.

How research has been done on the particular
biotope before setting up the layout? Make a proper research on
available plants, fish, invertebrates, materials etc. for a perfect
biotope aquarium. Our aim should be to keep it close to nature.

Depth and
balance in the aquarium.

2.

Selection and use of
materials (20 Points)

Harmony and balance between the rocks used, wood
etc.

How materials were used to mimic nature.

Fishes/Invertebrates chosen for the aquarium.

3.

Biotope (30 Points)

Information on Biotope from where fishes/Invertebrates
belong.

How close are the used material to the Biotope?

Do the fishes/Invertebrates belong to the Biotope?

Visualization of aquarium is looking natural or not?

Is provided space sufficient for fishes?

4.

Overall Impression (30 Points)

Overall visualization and impression of scape.

Photography skills.

Position of fishes/invertebrates in the photograph.

Any sign of editing of the aquascape.

Planted Aquariums

1.

Layout Design (30 Points)

If the design of layout is original or copied
from other scapes.

Use of the imagination in creating the layout.

Depth and
balance in the aquarium.

2.

Selection and use of
materials (20 Points)

Harmony and balance between the rocks used, wood
etc.

How materials were used to mimic nature.

Fishes/Invertebrates chosen for the aquarium.

3.

Plant Selection (20 Points)

Selection and arrangement of plants, their colors.
Home/marginal, terrestrial plants will be the cause of point deduction.

Health of used plants.

Maintenance of plants.

Presence of algae.

4.

Overall Impression (30 Points)

Overall visualization and impression of scape.

Photography skills.

Position of fishes/invertebrates in the photograph.

Any sign of editing of the aquascape.

Phase II

Top ten aquascapes photographs, chosen on the
basis of phase 1 judging, will be shown in the forum for public voting. Each
member has two
votes to elect his/her favorite scape from both the categories.